Welcome to this month's edition of Six Degrees of Separation, which is a monthly meme hosted by Kate from Books Are My Favourite and Best. The idea is to start with a specific book and make a series of links from one book to the next using whatever link you can find and see where you end up after six links. I am also linking this post up with The Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
This month's starting point is Orbital by Samantha Harvey.
Usually when I sit down to write this post, I just have to look at the book title and the idea of where the first link, and then the second link, etc etc will take me. My main challenge is in completing a chain not using books I have used multiple times before. This was not one of those months. Part of the reason is that I was trying to force a direction but it just wasn't working. Sometimes, you just have to keep it simple.
Over the last 18 months, British author Gillian Harvey has become a must read author for me. She writes books about life in France and starting over. Her new book, Midnight in Paris, comes out in the next couple of weeks and I am looking forward to reading it!
Midnight in Paris is a movie that I have seen quite a few times and which features several very famous authors who lived in Paris in the golden years of the 1920s. One of those authors was Ernest Hemingway and the book I am choosing is A Moveable Feast.
From a moveable feast I am then linking to Immovable Feast: A Paris Christmas by John Baxter. Baxter is an Australian who has lived in Paris for many years and published a number of books about the city and his experiences.
My most recent read about Christmas in Paris was Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin. I do have several books that I could have chosen about Christmas in Paris. Is anyone surprised.
Moving from Paris to Venice, my next choice is The Venice Hotel by Tess Woods, which I read recently.
Also set mostly in Venice is The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood. This is the second book in the Shakespeare Sisters series, and tells the story of a woman who is trying to find her true identity during WWII.
I mentioned that I struggled at the beginning this month. Once I get going though, the connections do just happen. I was just finalising this post when I realised I had accidentally done a seventh degree. I could probably keep going as well. Maybe I will do a Top Ten Tuesday one day with ten connections!
Next month, the starting point is Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de LaclosWill you be joining us?
I absolutely loved Orbital but couldn't even begin to think of doing a 6-degrees activity with it. I couldn't decide where to begin.
ReplyDeleteI tried starting with Booker Prizes and then again with a space theme but it didn't really work for me, so this is what I ended up with!
DeleteI like how your 6-degrees-of-separation led you to some of my favorite places---from space to Paris to Italy!
ReplyDeleteI always think this is a delightful game that gets all of us---participants and readers of the game---into thinking more deeply about books.
I've got Immovable Feast on my CCSpin list. Nice chain here.
ReplyDeleteLots of intriguing titles in this chain! I went with a space theme but like yours better - and just put a Rebecca Raisin title on hold at the library.
ReplyDeleteNicely done!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great reading week
Yes, it can sometimes be difficult to think of that important first link! I haven't read any of these, but I love books set in Venice.
ReplyDeleteI like this chain, featuring Paris and Venice. I haven't read many books set in either city, although I have read a few of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti series that are set in Venice.
ReplyDeleteI plan on doing Six Degrees next month, as long as I can come up with enough books.
This is a great chain, Marg. I haven't read any of the books, but think I would enjoy all of them. Paris and Venice are such great settings. I hope you have a Happy New Year!
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